Let's all celebrate cultural diversity!

Since 1990, the Celebrating Cultural Diversity Festival (CCDF) has given members of The University of Iowa and its surrounding communities an opportunity to learn about each other through food, games, dance, music, literature, storytelling, arts, and crafts.

Annual attendance is between 3,000 and 5,000 people, making CCDF the second largest non-athletic event sponsored by The University of Iowa. Taking place annually at the end of February, the festival consistently and successfully creates meaningful cross-cultural interactions and deeper appreciation and understanding.

Our Planning Objectives:

To bring together people from different foreign and domestic cultures to learn about, from and with each other.
To interest more Iowans in learning about cultures different than their own and to widen their cultural horizons.
To increase the number of students and scholars from under represented cultures in leadership positions.
To offer students from under-represented cultures the opportunity to share new and different aspects of their culture with members of the University and surrounding communities.
To publicize other cross-cultural programs and events.

Be a Part of the Celebration

"The Celebrating Cultural Diversity Festival is one of the most important annual events on our campus. As The University of Iowa faces its current challenges, it is important that we remember and celebrate our strengths and our values. Diversity remains one of the UI’s highest priorities, and it remains one of our institution’s most important ideals. Diversity is not only part of what we do every day, but it is also part of who we are. As we move forward to become a better and better University, we know that cultural diversity remains at the center of our mission, in our teaching, research, and service.

Through the Celebrating Cultural Diversity Festival, we bring together people from throughout the University and greater community for a day full of inspiration, learning, entertainment, and fun. I encourage you to be part of this community of diversity through your involvement in the Festival, whether it be as a sponsor, participant, or attendee. The diversity of our community is strengthened by each act of participation in the Celebrating Cultural Diversity Festival."

- Sally Mason, President, University of Iowa

Volunteer:

Get involved! There are many great volunteer opportunities involving all aspects of the festival. If you are interested, please visit the volunteer page for more information.

Perform:

The Cultural Diversity Festival is always seeking new and diverse performers. Past performers have offered some of the most intriguing entertainment yet seen; from African drumming and Mexican folk dance to Korean Tae Kwon Do. To register to perform please visit the performers page.

Sponsor:

Our ever-expanding list of sponsors provides this festival with the sources it needs to be an outstanding event year in and year out. To help contribute to one of the University of Iowa’s best events please contact Sharon Beck at
sharon-beck@uiowa.edu or visit the sponsors page.